Severe thunderstorms and wildfire smoke impact Maryland as 30,000 residents lose power following heavy winds and lightning strikes.

Severe thunderstorms swept across Maryland on Saturday, causing significant property damage and leaving nearly 30,000 residents without power. The storm, which featured 60 mph wind gusts and lightning, hit Central and Southern Maryland hardest, particularly Anne Arundel County. Kyle Pallozzi, a National Weather Service meteorologist, reported that the weather system caused numerous trees to fall on homes and businesses. While the rainfall was relatively light at 0.7 inches, the wind damage was substantial. Residents reported various impacts, including a tree nearly hitting Wayne Lewis on his porch and a lightning strike starting a fire at the Wayside Inn, managed by Joe Xu. In addition to the storms, the region dealt with unhealthy air quality caused by Canadian wildfire smoke. The National Weather Service indicated that while the smoke will begin to clear by Sunday, the weather pattern will remain active with a cold front moving through the Baltimore metro overnight. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s for most of next week.

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